Inner cover for annealing furnaces



July 16, 1963 M. JACOB 3,097,837

INNER COVER FOR ANNEALING FURNACES Filed Feb. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. Maze/.5 L JAC'05 Hz: A TTORNE Y July 16, 1963 M. L. JACOBINNER COVER FOR ANNEALING FURNACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1961INVENTOR Mame/.5 Z JAc'aB BY I H15 A rr euev July 16, 1963 M. 1.. JACOBINNER COVER FOR ANNEIALING FURNACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 5, 1961INVENTOR. MOEE/JL JAC05 BY fi'iwc H15 A rroeusv July 16, 1963 M. JACOB3,097,337

INNER COVER FOR ANNEALING FURNACES Filed Feb. 3, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 41'Ill III! 53 IN V EN TOR. M02215 A J4 e05 WWW H15 A TTOEHE Y UnitedStates Patent of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 86,995 7Claims. (Cl. 263-49) This invention relates generally to inner coversfor annealing furnaces and more particularly to reinforcing members forinner covers that provide means for lifting and transporting the same.

The problem in changing the construction of inner covers requires thattheir overall dimensions cannot be changed because they would not fit inthe annealing furnaces. if their structure is changed within the overalldimensions then the coil chamber may not receive the stack of coils ormay change the rate of heat exchange.

If the structure of the inner cover is radically changed by adding adifferent character of annular sections to the top of the inner coverthe heat transfer characteristics as well as the internal stresses andstrains shorten the life of the inner cover.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an additionto an inner annealing cover having known approval and acceptabilitywhich will reinforce the same as well as provide a means for lifting andconveying the inner annealing cover.

Another object of this invention is to reinforce the upper portion ofthe inner annealing cover without changing the inner or outer dimensionsand at the some time provide an annular ledge for lifting andtransporting the inner cover.

Another object is the provision of several modifications that permit anexisting inner annealing cover to be provided with additionalreinforcement adjacent the top and a lifting ring without altering thestructure of the existing inner cover or enlarging its dimensions.

Another object is the provision of a combination reinforcing rnember andannular lifting ledge for use on corrugated as well as smoothcylindrical annealing inner covers. It is important that either typeannealing inner cover have a domed top to strengthen the cover andprovide room for free circulation. A domed top requires stools to engagethe under side of the lifter when hoisting the inner covers by thelifting ledge. A flat roof annealing cover sinks in and closes off thefree circulation of annealing gases.

Other objects and advantages of this invention appear hereinafter in thefollowing description and claims.

The accompanying drawings show for the purpose of exemplificationwithout limiting this invention or the claims thereto, certain practicalembodiments illustrating the principles of this invention; wherein FIG.1 is a view on vertical elevation of an inner cover having the structurecomprising this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial plan view of the structure shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a partial view in elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a modified form oflifter support and reinforcing member.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views of modified forms of the structureshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a view in elevation and a portion in section showing a smoothcylindrical inner cover having a broken stool.

3,097,837 Patented July 16, 1963 FIG. 12 is a view in elevation and aportion in section showing a smooth cylindrical inner covcr having poststools.

FiG. i3 is a view in elevation and a portion in section showing a smoothcylindrical inner cover having gusset plate stools.

Referring to FIG. 1 the inner cover 1 comprises the 'erticallycorrugated cylindrical wall 2 reinforced by a series of annular bands 3which in this instance are not tacked to the corrugations but are heldby the strap members 4. The annular reinforcing bands 5 are notsupported by the strap members 4 but are tacked directly to thecorrugations of the cylindrical corrugated plate 2. Thus the bands 3prevent expansion, whereas the reinforcing bands 5 prevent expansion andcontraction of the cylindrical corrugated inner cover 1.

The bottom of the inner cover is provided with an angle bracket 6 havinga horizontal flange 7 that is welded dircctly to the bottom of thecorrugations of the cylindrical wall 2 and the other leg 8 of the anglebracket is increased in length and extends directly below the innercorrugations to form a sand seal member.

The upper end of the corrugated cylinder 2 has welded thereto the topmember it) the central portion 11 of which is conical or spherical andis provided with a flat annular rim 12 that is welded to the top edgesof the corrugated cylindrical wall 2 thus completely enclosing the upperend of the inner cover 1. When the seal leg 8 is properly sealed theinner cover is gas-tight and provides a completely enclosed chamber.

The conical or spherical top member is dished as illustrated to provideadditional strength and the heavy plate from which this top is made aidsin reinforcing the perimeter of the corrugated cylindrical wall 2. As anadditional reinforcing member an annular bar 13 is provided with itsgreatest dimension disposed radially to the corrugated cylindrical wall2. This bar 13 as shown in FlG. 5 is actually free of the outercorrugations in the cylindrical wall 2 and is spaced therefrom to act asa lifting member for handling of said cover. To support this reinforcingbar and to make it effective on the inner cover 1 an annular series ofbrackets 14 are welded to the outer arcuate edge of selected of thecorrugations as illustrated in FIG. 3. The brackets 14 are welded tothis outer arcuate surface of the corrugations on both sides of thebracket and at the top and the bottom thereof the bracket as shown inH6. 5 has considerable length but stops short of the list perimetralportion 12 of the top member 10. This permits the flat part I2 to beinspected and re-welded if any leaks develop around the corrugationsbetween the top 10 and the corrugated cylindrical wall 2. As shown inFIG. 2 there are twelve brackets supports 14 provided to secure theannular bar 13 to the corrugated cylindrical wall 2. These twelvebrackets although specifically lo cated on the outer curved surface of acorrugation provide material strength to the structure owing to theirlength and to the fact that they are welded o the heavy corrugated platestructure in the annular wall 2 vertically or longitudinally of thecorrugations. This arrangement provides a very strong reinforcing memberfor the cover and the under side of the bracket 14 extends for the fulldepth of the bar 13 which represents the maximum dimension of this bar.

The bar 13 is not only a reinforcing member to the corrugated annularwall but also provides a shoulder under which lifting members may beinserted for hoisting the inner cover 1 and transporting the same. Inview of the fact that some of the lifting members require the lift inghead to rest on top of the inner cover it is necessary to provide aseries of stools 15 at various positions around the perimeter of theflat portion 12 of the top 10. These stools 15 are U-shaped with theirflanges spaced so that they may engage the flat section 12 of the topimmediately above the outer and inner curved portions of thecorrugations of the cylindrical wall 2. As shown in FIG. 3 the stools 15with its legs 16 and 17 are located so that the flange 16 is over two ofthe inner corrugations as indicated at 18 and the flange 17 is over thesingle corrugation as indicated at 19 and just above one of the brackets14. Thus the hoist may be placed over the cover and lowered until itengages the stools 15 at which time the fingers may be actuated toengage under the annular bar 13 for the purpose of lifting the innercover 1. If on the other hand the fingers of the hoist are required tobe threaded around the inner cover and under the shoulder formed by theannular bar 13 there is ample room to allow for such a hoist.

When the hoist is raised regardless of its type all of the weight of theinner cover is transmitted from the hoist to the annular bar 13 andthrough the brackets 14 to the corrugated cylindrical cover 2. There isno pressure between the bar 13 and the corrugated cylindrical wallbecause of the clearance between this bar and the corrugated cylindricalwall. Again any tendency for the cover to expand or contract adjacentthe top thereof is counteracted by the forces distributing themselvesthrough the brackets 14 to the annular bar 13.

The stools 15 are preferably made just as high or slightly higher thanthe dished top 10 so that when the hoisting mechanism or any othermember spanning the top of the inner cover will be carried by the stools15 rather than the dished portion 11 of the top 10.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 the stools 15 are replaced by the annularupstanding rib 20 which may not be made completely annular in view ofthe fact that it is only approximately as high as the stools 15. Thisupstanding rib 20 may be made in sections and is welded continuously orit may be tack welded to the annular fiat portion 12 of the top 10.

The annular reinforcing member shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is in the form ofthe upwardly open channel 21 having its flanges 22 and 23 welded to theunderside of the brackets 14. This merely decreases the weight of theannular bar 13 and provides a sufficiently strong box member as thelifting ring and reinforcing ring for the inner cover 1.

Modifications of the upstanding rib and lifting ring are shown in FIGS.8, 9 and 10 wherein the upstanding member which receives the hoistingmechanism in FIG. 8 is an angle bracket 24 which is annular but ispreferably not joined as illustrated by the upstanding rib 20. ThisL-shaped member 24 has its short flange 25 welded to the flat surface 12of the top 10 and is recessed from the perimetral edge of the flatsurface 12.

The brackets 14 in FIG. 8 supports the annular reinforcing member 26which is in the form of an outwardly open channel member having itsupper flange 27 secured to the underside of the brackets 14 and itslower flange 28 providing the lifting surface of the annular reinforcingring 26.

In FIG. 9 the stool members 15 are replaced by the annular angle iron 30which has its long flange extending upwardly to the heighth of the dome11 and its shorter horizontal flange secured to the flat surface 12 ofthe top 10. Here the bracket members 14 support the annular angle ironmember 31 which has its horizontal flange 32 welded to the underside ofthe brackets 14 and its vertical flange 31 spaced from the corrugatedcylindrical wall 2 of the inner cover.

The structure in FIG. 10 employs as a stool the annular member 33 whichis frusto conical in shape and its foot 34 is welded to the flat portion12 of the dished top 10. A series of vertical supports 35 reinforce theconical member 33 in positions similar to that shown by the location ofthe stools 15 in FIG. 2. The stool member 33 is of course as are allthese members sufliciently high to support the inner cover lifting meansso that it does not crush or otherwise disturb the dome 11 of the top.The brackets 14 in FIG. 10 support the inwardly faced channel member 36with its upper flange 37 welded to the under sides of the bracketmembers 14 and the lower flange 38 forming the lifting surface of thebar in the form of this channel member 36. The ends of the annularflanges 37 and 38 are of course spaced from the corrugated cylindricalwall 2 of the inner cover.

Although twelve brackets 14 are shown it is obvious that more or less innumber may be employed to suit the need for supporting the lifting ledge13.

Referring to FIG. 11 the smooth cylindrical inner cover 4d has a dome orconical top 41 welded around its perimetral surface 42 to the uppercylindrical end of the cylinder. An upstanding stool in the form of twoarcuate sections 43 and 44 are also Welded to the top of the cylinderand in effect extend this cylindrical surface upwardly. A plurality ofvertically disposed brackets 45 are welded along their longitudinaledges of the outer surface of the cylinder as well as the outer surfaceof the upstanding stools 43 and 44. There may be any desired number ofthese brackets such as six, eight or twelve. The bottom of each bracketis welded to the annular lifting bar 46 which like the bar 13 is free ofthe cylindrical surface, there being ample clearance therebetween. Thusthe whole support is through the brackets 45.

In the smooth cylindrical inner cover 47 of FIG. 12 the lifting ledge 48is constructed quite similarly to that of FIG. 5 in that it is supportedby the brackets 50 similar to that of the brackets 14. In addition tothese brackets the stool bars 51 aid in supporting the ring 48. Thebrackets 50 and the bar stools 51 are welded longitudinally to the sidesof the cylinder to provide a long and strong engagement. The ring 48 isin turn welded to the bottom of the brackets 50 as well as to the bottomof the stools 51 but is held free and in spaced relation to thecylindrical surface of the inner cover. As with all stools these stools50 are as high if not slightly higher than the dome 52.

In the structure of FIG. 13 the annular lift ring 53 is welded directlyto the cylindrical Wall of the inner cover 54 and three gusset plates 55are welded to the top of the ring 53 as well as to the cylindrical walland are as high if not higher than the dome 56. The ring 53 may becontinuously welded or spot welded to the cylinder.

I claim:

1. An inner annealing cover for an annealing furnace, comprising, incombination, a substantially vertical enclosure wall forming a completeperimeter and enclosing a space, a top secured to the upper end of saidwall to close the upper end of said space, a substantially perimetrallifting member in surrounding and laterally spaced adjacency to saidwall, and a plurality of perimetrally spaced supports secured to saidwall adjacent said top and having their respective lower parts securedto said lifting member.

2. An inner annealing cover for an annealing furnace, comprising, incombination, a substantially vertical enclosure wall forming a completeperimeter and enclosing a space, a top secured to the upper end of saidwall to close the upper end of said space, a substantially perimetrallifting member in surrounding and laterally spaced adjacency to saidwall, and a plurality of perimetrally spaced supports secured to saidwall adjacent said top and having their respective lower parts securedto said lifting member, said top further having a raised central portionand said supports rising substantially to the height of said portion.

3. An inner annealing cover for an annealing furnace, comprising, incombination, a corrugated vertically extending cylindrical wall, a topwelded to the upper edge of said wall to close the upper end of saidcover, said top having a raised central portion and a flat annular rim,

said rim having a width substantially that of the depth of thecorrugations in said wall, an annular lifting member surrounding saidwall and positioned closely adja cent to but radially spaced from saidwall, said lifting member having a generally fiat underside portion toprovide a downwardly facing handling ledge extending radially inwardlyfrom the outer edge of said underside portion, a plurality of generallyradially extending circumferentially spaced brackets having a verticaledge welded to said wall closely adjacent to but below said upper edgethereof, said lifting member having an upper portion welded to thebottom of said brackets, and a plurality of vertically extendingannularly arranged stool supports on which a handling mechanism isadapted to rest, said supports being welded to said rim to projectthereabove inwardly of said lifting member and rising substantially tothe height of the highest portion of said central portion of said top.

4. An inner annealing cover for an annealing furnace, comprising, incombination, a vertically extending cylindrical wall, a top welded tothe upper part of said wall to close the upper end of said cover,annular lifting means surrounding said wall in secured relation theretoand positioned closely adjacent to but radially spaced from said wall,and a plurality of vertically extending stool supports on which ahandling mechanism is adapted to rest ar ranged around the perimeter ofsaid top within a vertical projection of the outside of said annularlifting means, said stool supports extending upwardly as high as thehighest part of said cover.

5. An inner annealing cover for an annealing furnace, comprising, incombination, a corrugated vertically extending cylindrical wall, a topwelded to the upper edge of said wall to close the upper end of saidcover, said top having a raised central portion and a fiat annular rim,said rim having a width substantially that of the depth of thecorrugations in said wall, an annular lifting member surrounding saidwall and positioned closely adjacent to but radially spaced from saidwall, said lifting member having a generally fiat underside portion toprovide a downwardly facing handling ledge extending radially inwardlyfrom the outer edge of said underside portion, a

Cir

plurality of generally radially extending circumferentially spacedbrackets having a vertical edge welded to said wall closely adjacent tobut below said upper edge thereof, said lifting member having an upperportion welded to the bottom of said brackets, and means on which ahandling mechanism is adapted to rest welded to said cover and risingsubstantially at least to the height of the highest portion of saidcentral portion of said top.

6. An inner annealing cover for an annealing furnace, comprising, incombination, a vertically extending cylindrical wall, a top welded tothe upper edge of said wall to close the upper end of said cover, saidtop having a central portion and a rim portion, an annular liftingmember surrounding said wall and positioned closely adjacent to butradially spaced from said wall, said lifting member having an undersideportion to provide a downwardly facing handling ledge, and a pluralityof generally radially extending circumferentially spaced lifting membersupports welded to said wall, said lifting member having an upperportion welded to the bottom of said supports.

7. An inner annealing cover as set forth in claim 6 in which saidcylindrical wall is corrugated, said rim portion overlies saidcylindrical wall, said lifting member has a relatively standardstructural shape in cross section and there are a plurality ofvertically extending annularly arranged inverted U-shaped stool supportswelded to the upper side of said rim to project thereabove inwardly ofthe outer edge thereof to an upward height substantially equal to thehighest part of said cover, said inverted U- shaped stool supportshaving the width of their respective legs transverse to a radius of saidcover and generally covering at least the width of one corrugation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS268,128 Roberts Nov. 28, 1882 658,343 Clark Sept. 25, 1900 1,747,298Hassel Feb. 18, 1930 2,152,446 Temple Mar. 28, 1939 2,634,152 Dixon Apr.7, 1953 2,916,278 Radlinski et al Dec. 8, 1959 2,959,442 Kaegebein Nov.8, 1960

1. AN INNER ANNEALING COVER FOR AN ANNEALING FURNACE, COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION, SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ENCLOSURE WALL FORMING A COMPLETEPERIMETER AND ENCLOSING A SPACE, A TOP SECURED TO THE UPPER END OF SAIDWALL TO CLOSE THE UPPER END OF SAID SPACE, S SUBSTANTIALLY PERIMETRALLIFTING MEMBER IN SURROUNDING AND LATERALLY SPACED ADJACENTLY TO SAIDWALL, AND A PLURALITY OF PERIMETRALLY SPACED SUPPORTS SECURED TO SAIDWALL ADJACENT SAID TOP AND HAVING THEIR RESPECTIVE LOWER PARTS SECUREDTO SAID LIFTING MEMBER.